FRANKLIN – The Franklin football team closed out the regular season on Saturday (Nov. 16) afternoon, honoring the 2024 senior class ahead of the annual battle with the Hanover Panthers in the 94^th Victory Bell Game.
 
The Grizzlies (3-7, 2-4 HCAC) looked to spoil a Panthers (7-3, 5-1 HCAC) team still in contention for an HCAC title, but Hanover would rally from down by two scores in the final quarter to win 31-27.
 
How it Happened
Franklin got the scoring going on their second drive of the day, with Garrett Cora bolting in from 16 yards out to cap a six-play drive and make it 7-0. That score held through the first quarter before Hanover found the end zone early in the second quarter, but a botched extra point kept the Grizzlies in front, 7-6. Franklin stretched their lead to 14-6 with a 24-yard strike from Kai Ross to Jordan Fonda, but another Hanover touchdown late in the half cut Franklin's lead to 14-13 at the break.
 
Cora found the end zone for the third time early in the third quarter and scored a third rushing touchdown on the first play of the fourth to put Franklin ahead 27-16. But the Panthers found the end zone on their next drive and again with less than a minute to play, and Franklin's attempt at the go-ahead score would come up empty.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Total yards were 427-407 in Hanover's favor.
-Cora carried the ball 25 times for 129 yards and three scores, giving him 18 for the year and a new single-season program record.
-Ross went 16-for-26 for 252 yards and a touchdown with one interception through the air.
-Owen Wright had four grabs for a game-high 108 yards.
-Fonda set a career-high with six grabs for 64 yards and his first career touchdown.
-Keegan O'Neill led the defense with a career-high 12 tackles.
-Devonte Brown had nine tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.